Call for jihad to fight poverty

MEDAN, North Sumatra: People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais has called on Muslims throughout the country to engage in a jihad against poverty caused by the prolonged economic crisis.

"I call on all Muslims in Indonesia to work hand in hand to intensify our jihad (fight), especially the economic jihad, to revive our shrinking economy," he said before a crowd of some 25,000 Minang (West Sumatra) migrants attending a gathering at the Teladan Stadium here on Sunday.

Amien said Jihad did not mean to shoulder arms to fight the enemy, "but to exert the whole potential of our mind, funds, time and energy to improve the quality of our lives".

Amien also identified some urgent problems needing serious handling, such as the high rate of unemployment. "There are now almost 40 million people who are unemployed," he said.

He also called on all people to contemplate on their past and find the right path towards a better future. --Antara